Ahmedabad

World’s leading packaging solution provider, the US based Ball Corporation will start production in its first plant in India at Sanand near Ahmedabad in Gujarat tomorrow.

The first unit of the plant set up with an investment of Rs 120 crore (total estimated cost for the proposed all 6 units in next five to ten years is 530 crore) would produce five crore units of aluminum aerosol cans per year to be supplied mainly for the packaging of perfume sprays and deodorants. On full expansion the production will reach 30 crore units.

Addressing a joint press conference here today Mr. Dan Rabbitt Vice President, Ball Corporation, USA, Mr. Stan Platek General Manager, Ball Aerocan, Europe and Mr. Sebastien Gaspari Director – Business Strategy, Ball Aerocan Europe and Mr. Ajith KumarGeneral Manager, Ball Aerosolcan Division, India said that the 30 percent of the product output from the plant would be exported.

The 8.6 billion US dollar annual turnover company also makes certain equipment for aerospace industry. The land acquisition for its sole Indian plant stated in August last year and the work began in October that year. It is being started in exactly one year time. State Minister Saurabh Patel will remain present on the occasion of the commissioning of the plant tomorrow.

To a query, Mr Sebastien said that the first Indian plant would not supply to beverage and other segments. ‘We won’t supply to even our major international customer Coca Cola and other beverage companies from this plant. We would remain focused to the perfume and deodorant segment,’ he said.

Mr. Robbitt said that the world demand for aerosol cans was 7.5 billion units currently and was expected to touch 13 billion mark after 2020. In India the market is of 400 million units and is expected to grow much faster in coming years.

– DeshGujarat